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I Just had my 6 month post op with my doctor today. Everything is going good. Down 70 pounds since surgery and add another 15 for the pre diet! She asked me if anything was going on and I told her that my periods seem to arrive about 3 weeks even though I was very regular pre surgery. SHe gave me the same answer regarding estrogen being stored in fat and hormones being out of wack, I agree that it is a small price to pay!! This surgery has been one of the best things I ever did. Just sorry I waited so long!

I was banded September 21, 2009. I live in a suburb outside of Lowell. Had my surgery at Lowell Generall Hospital with the LGH Baratric weightloss Center in North Chelmsford. The band is the best thing that ever happend to me (okay my family is the best but this is right up there!!) i have lost over 70 pounds and feel like a million bucks!!! Glad to share my experiences!!!

I am reading a book about Muhammad Ali's daughter. She writes about her struggle with weight and how she decided to go ahead and have the Lab band surgery back in 2004. She cowrote it with her doctors who performed the surgery. Khalia writes of her experiences and then the doctors write blurbs about different things that Khalia says. One of the things the doctor comments on is how we need to still interact with people and how hard it is over meals. He said that it is okay to "skip" the rule of not drinking with meals occasionally if it helps you "feel" more comfortable. You just have to know that you are defeating the purpose. I don't think it has anything to do with not feeling well while drinking with food, it is just that you will fill up on the liquid and any food in your pouch will push thru faster and therefore you will be hungry again faster. He still thinks this is a good policy to follow but sometimes a bandster wants to feel more comfortable in a social situation that includes a meal.

I am 4 months post op and having very few issues! I have managed to lose almost 60 pounds with little drama. I really do have to watch what I eat but I am retraining myself and this band is the best thing I ever did! Good Luck!

That is one of the strangest things that I find..>The growling. It is so loud sometimes it is very embarrasing!!! Unfortunately it doesn't stop (for me anyway) after being on solids. I am 4 months post op. and it still happens! One of only a few "bad" things since surgery so I can live with it! Congratulations!

If we are going to look at this surgery in "perfect world" terms, of course we would not drink. Unfortunately most of us don't live in the perfect world. I was a beer drinker before surgery and was told that was a definite "no no" SO I have given it up. On the occasion that I do go out I do have a vodka and cranberry or two. I have not felt any real difference in the way the alcohol affects me. My biggest concern about drinking is the potential loss of my good judgement and that is why I don't drink often or a lot. I socialize with several close friends and I would feel so "left out" if I didn't allow myself a drink or two every once in awhile. One of my big conversations with my nutrtionist before surgery is what I would drink for alcohol after the surgery! She was helping me figure out what to substitute for the beer. Now, she was not encouraging me to drink but she understood that we can't change everything. I do understand that some people substitute the alcohol for the food addiction and that should be a big concern for everyone. We need to make sure we don't substitute one addiction (food) for another, alcohol, shopping, gambling,etc, WIth that said have a drink in moderation and enjoy!

WOW isn't it incredible how a lot of us think being able to cross our legs is awesome!! My sister, the nurse ,reminds me that it isn't good to keep your legs crossed, bad for circulation purposes. I am like who cares...I am so excited to be able to do it!!!

Melinco, I so feel your pain! Banded on September 21, 2009 and have not had my favorite beverage of choice, TAB, since September 20, 2009!! It was dificult at first but now I just think of the fond memories we had together!! LOL!!! I just don't even have any in the house anymore. I am having trouble drinking crystal light as I don't like a lot of the fake sweetners after taste. I find myself drinking a lot of hot tea and my new found favorite is the SoBe agave lemonade drink. It is NOT "no calorie" but only has about 50 calories in a 12 oz bottle. I just monitor how much I drink and go for it. Sometimes I wonder how bad those artificial sweetners are for us anyway!

Wow I am so sorry to hear that. I asked my surgeon about the vice swapping thing and she says it tends to be true and most of the time it is alcohol one switches too. She had (what I thought) a lame explanation..that it takes less to make someone "buzzed" and they don't adjust for it! I think it is all about addictive behavior. I have heard about the sex thing too. I think you will be okay because you are aware from the get go. Have you ever talked to your mom about why she thinks it has happend to her?

Minimeme, I think you are on to something. I have read lots of articles that state people who have weightloss surgery do infact pick up another vice. I have a close relatve that seems to drink more now that she has had WLS. It scares me enough that I am being very mindful of my drinking. I once heard Rosie O'Donnell say that she had empathy for those famous celebrities that kept getting arrested for drug and alcohol issues because she beleived that if overeating were illegal she would be arrested. I think we really do need to be mindful that we have "addictive" tendencies and if we drop the food addiction we need to make sure we don't pick up another bad habit. I do think you and I are in a good place because we are going to be mindful of what could happen. Goodluck!

DON'T GIVE UP!!! I was banded on September 21st and didn't get my first fill until November 3rd and had my second fill on December 23rd. After being banded if I hadn't seen the band during my upper GI I would not have beleived it was there! I, like you, have been losing weight but I think it was purely because I was making a serious effort to watch my eating. I have experineced a little restriction after my second fill but still have not had the feeling of real restriction. I am sure it is there but I think I was expecting some huge difference. All I can say is that I am making better choices so I am happy with the weight loss. 43 pounds since being banded (not counting the 16 before surgery!) I am hoping the third fill will be the charm but if i think logically about it..if I am losing weight without having the "sliming" issues, and "stuck" issues and I can still eat whatever I want that is a good thing, right? I sort of feel as though the band is a "mind" thing. It doesn't feel like it is doing much but the idea that it is there is definitely doing something to my eating habits so that is a good thing!! Good Luck and this band is the best thing I ever did for myself!!!

At the center I go to calories are never mentioned. It is all about the right food choices. If you are losing the weight and getting your nitrition how could your nut say anything??? Once your weight loss slows down then you may have to make some changes but little changes at a time are a lot easier to make then a bunch of changes all at once! Good for you. I am nervous though. Many people say you can't deny yourself or cut out a food group all together because one day you will go crazy and overdue it. My issue is with sweets...I LOVE them and feel like if I start eating them again I will not stop. I had a very small piece of cake on Turkey Day but other than that I have not had any kind of cookies, candy, chocolate since my surgery on Sept. 21. Don't you stop craving things after a period of time? Right now I have no trouble resisting them and don't feel bad when other people are around me eating them so I really think I am okay. I fel like I am safer cutting them out completely. My cheat everyday is a tablespoon of WHITE SUGAR in my tea. I was warned against it but what is a tablespoon cost me and if it makes me happy I am doing it. I just don't like artificial sweetners all that much and i enjoy my cup of tea everyday!!!